One of the voices behind Jimmy Kimmel Live! is bringing his solo work to the masses with a new comedy album.
JKL writer Troy Walker released his debut stand-up record, Esquire, via the label Blonde Medicine on February 20.
The album finds Walker tackling topics like his Denver upbringing, race, and culture shock upon his move to Los Angeles. (Walker’s album title is one that he himself carries for real; the comic is a licensed attorney, having earned a law degree from the University of Denver.)
Walker has been a staff writer for Jimmy Kimmel’s show since 2021, contributing material for all aspects of the program, from monologues and sketches to sponsored segments.
In addition to JKL, Walker was part of the writing staff for two of Kimmel’s stints hosting the Oscars (in 2023 and 2024), earning an Emmy nomination for his work on the latter. Walker was also nominated for a WGA Award as part of the Jimmy Kimmel Live! writers’ room the same year.
But the comic’s first association with late-night came 11 years ago, when he made his standup debut on The Late Late Show under guest host Thomas Lennon in 2015.
Walker was a rising star in the Denver stand-up comedy scene when he was named one of Just For Laughs’ New Faces of Comedy in 2014.
The writer’s onscreen moments at JKL include playing the “Kwanzaaroo,” a made-up mascot for Kwanzaa that he co-wrote to build off of JKL writer Gary Greenberg’s annual “Chanucorn” gag.
Outside of JKL, his screen credits include Fuse’s comedy showcase Uproarious, Viceland’s comedy docuseries Flophouse, and the Comedy Central sitcom Corporate.
Esquire is available digitally now.
